Backstage

What Does an Anti-Platform Look Like? The Design Choices That Defined Backstage

Creator Economy
Online Community
Brand Identity
Content Design

Most platforms flatten the creator-fan dynamic into a numbers game—likes, follows, fleeting engagement. But what if the design made it feel like stepping into a secret world? One where creators had control, fans felt like insiders, and the algorithm wasn’t in charge?

Outcomes

Our branding process helped Backstage establish an identity that reflected its rebellious, exclusive, and creator-first ethos. By developing a distinct visual language, we ensured that the brand resonated with both creators and their fans, positioning Backstage as a platform built for true creative independence.

Key Achievements

  • Developed a brand identity from scratch, translating the founder’s vision into a tangible design system
  • Designed brand guidelines, mockups, and styleframes, ensuring a cohesive application across future touchpoints
  • Positioned Backstage as a bold, exclusive platform, visually setting it apart from traditional creator tools

What is

Backstage

Backstage is a platform to help creators build sustainable businesses by engaging, growing, and monetizing their fanbases. It provides a modern alternative to traditional fan engagement platforms by allowing creators to connect directly with their audience, free from algorithmic constraints. Through exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, and in-app Creator Coins,

Backstage empowers creators to cultivate deep loyalty and interaction within their communities.

Engagement

Engagement Model

One-off project – A focused partnership to craft a bold and recognisable brand identity

Service Requested

  • Brand Strategy Workshop
  • Visual Identity System
  • Brand Guidelines & Documentation

Engagement Stage

They approached us at the idea stage, looking to build their brand identity from scratch.

Design Maturity of the Founder

Familiarity with Design Concepts – 1/5

The founders, while experienced business operators, had limited exposure to branding and required guidance throughout the process.

Readiness for Outsourcing – 4/5

They understood the need for design experts to execute their vision and were fully open to collaboration.

Team Composition

Second-time founders – Experienced business operators from Bangalore & the U.S. with coding backgrounds

The Challenge

While the Backstage founders had a clear vision for their brand positioning and strategy, they lacked familiarity with brand identity and its applications. Our challenge was to take their positioning and bring it to life through a structured, design-first approach. However, this process was complicated by misaligned stakeholders, shifting inputs, and the need to balance branding across both creators and fans.

  • Stakeholder Misalignment – Key decision-makers weren’t present from day one, leading to shifting directions and setbacks.
  • Dual-Purpose Identity – The brand had to appeal to both creators (who seek self-expression and independence) and fans (who seek exclusivity and engagement).

Our Approach

Exploring Design Directions

To ensure the brand captured the right creative energy, we explored three distinct design directions:

  • Scrapbook Theme – Representing the raw, unfiltered, and spirited side of creators, inspired by messy, expressive scrapbooks
  • Geometric Grids – Drawing from backstage platforms and structured spaces, symbolizing limitless creative potential
  • Club Theme – Evoking the exclusivity of niche communities and tight-knit creative circles

Through extensive exploration and iteration, the final brand identity was crafted by merging creative and rebellious design elements to best reflect Backstage’s intended image.

Aligning Stakeholders & Course-Correcting

When new stakeholders joined mid-project, it created misalignment in the brand direction. We flagged these inconsistencies and helped realign the team on a unified vision, though it came at the cost of time and resources. This experience underscored the importance of involving all key stakeholders from day one.

Delivering a Scalable Identity System

Since we weren’t involved in product or web design, we ensured that Backstage’s branding could be seamlessly implemented by other teams. This included:

  • Brand Guidelines – Ensuring consistency across all future brand expressions
  • Mockups & Styleframes – Providing visual references for application across marketing and product
  • Documentation & Frameworks – Helping the client maintain alignment across different vendors handling various brand touchpoints

What They Had to Say

Designing Scalable Solutions Together

Branding isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating an identity that resonates with the right audience. Backstage needed a brand that felt exclusive, rebellious, and deeply creator-first, and we helped bring that vision to life.

If you’re building a brand that needs to cut through the noise, let’s talk. 🚀

Book a call to see how we can do the same for you